Yerington Monday: The Jeanne Dini Cultural Center and The Yerington Theatre for the Arts

Yerington Monday: The Jeanne Dini Cultural Center and

The Yerington Theatre for the Arts

The Jeanne Dini Cultural Center

Jeanne Demuth Dini  (Dec. 22, 1929 - Jun. 27, 1994)

In 1949, he married Jeanne Demuth, and they had four sons: Joe III, George, David and Michael Dini. Jeanne died in 1994, age 62. The center was named after her for the work that she did in raising the funds to make the center. You may be able to get more info at their Web site.

The Grammar School No. 9 had been vacated in 1980 and the building was boarded until 1988, when led by the late Jeanne Dini, along with several citizens of Yerington, who came together to rehabilitate the abandoned school. With funds from Nevada State Historic Preservation and private donations the Grammar School No 9 was reopened in 1998 as a theater and cultural center. The $1.8 million restored center was renamed the Jeanne Dini Cultural Center. Today, the center is managed by YTA and is rented by arts organizations such as Through A Child’s Eyes Foundation and the Yerington High School Drama Club along with other local organizations.  

In 1995, following the death of his first wife, Mr. Dini married the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, Mouryne B. Landing. Since his retirement, Mr. Dini has been active with the Mason Valley Chamber of Commerce, South Lyon Medical Center Foundation, Yerington Theater for the Arts, and the Mason Valley Environmental Committee. In 2005 he was named an inaugural member of the Assembly’s Wall of Distinction.

Construction Grammar School No 9 Yerington Grammar School No 9 was designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style in 1912 and was designed by renowned Nevada architect Frederic Joseph Delongchamps. The school was constructed for $16,000. And was large enough to educate 100 children. The schoolhouse was vacated for larger school facilities in 1980. Many of Yerington’s residents attended the Grammar School No 9 including Nevada State Assembly Speaker Emeritus, Joe Dini.

Before the Restoration

Yerington Theatre for the ARTS (YTA) was founded in 1984 by a group of local citizens in response to the need for quality arts programming that was appropriate, affordable and accessible for the people living in the Walker River Basin area of Northern Nevada. Today, YTA is recognized as one of Nevada’s finest arts organizations. During the first years, the group presented touring performances and events in a variety of venues from school gyms and church centers to old warehouses and outdoor parks. In 1988, led by the late Jeanne Dini, the citizens of Yerington came together to rehabilitate historic Yerington Grammar School No. 9 into a much needed performing arts center.

After the Restoration

Yerington Theatre for the ARTS at The Jeanne Dini Cultural Center

YTA at The Jeanne Dini Center was opened to the public in January 1998 and is home to an eclectic mix of performing, literary, and visual arts. Today, the landmark schoolhouse turned performing arts center is Yerington Theatre for the ARTS in the Jeanne Dini Center, located in the heart of Yerington, Nevada – and is the pride of our community. The Center hosts an intimate theater, meeting and classroom space, and two exhibition galleries. We present an exciting lineup of performances, gallery exhibitions, and special events. We bring arts of distinction from around the world and around the corner to Nevada. YTA in The Jeanne Dini Center is also home to local artists; Mason Valley Wind Spirit Dancers, Danza Azteca, Dini Center Artists, and Shutterbugs Photography Club.

Yerington Theatre for the ARTS

Yerington Theatre for the ARTS

at the Jeanne Dini Center

120 North California Street
Mailing: P.O. Box 1029
Yerington, NV 89447
(775) 463-1783 ‎

Yerington Theatre for the ARTS (YTA) is a non-profit organization operating in Yerington, Nevada whose mission is to enrich the quality of life in our community through the arts. They operate the Jeanne Dini Center and present performing arts, visual art exhibitions, art education programs, and cultural heritage events.  Yerington Theatre for the Arts in the Jeanne Dini Cultural Center is home to a diverse mix of performing, literary, and visual arts.  YTA opened in 1998 to as an intimate theater, meeting and classroom space, and two exhibition galleries presenting an exhilarating lineup of performances, gallery exhibitions, and special events.

YTA Café at the Center

YTA Café at the Center is not a secret anymore – our fabulous breakfast/lunch menu is known for its fresh and delicious ingredients. We do our best to use local ingredients when we can and our menu does include gluten free items! Besides being a fantastic place to eat, you can enjoy before and after in our galleries, purchase tickets to upcoming shows at Yerington Theatre for the ARTS or find a special something for someone in our gift shop.

We always include delicious weekly specials, so check back soon to see what we’re having this week!  The YTA Cafe offers a superb selection of salads and sandwiches Tuesday – Friday from 9 until 2.

Hour of Operation:

Tuesday – Friday
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

General Menu:

Cold Sandwiches, Wraps & Paninis with an assortment of meats and cheeses, including roast beef, herb roasted turkey, Black Forest Ham, pastrami, Italian meats, paired with your choice of cheddar, provolone, Havarti, Swiss or Pepper Jack cheese.  All sandwiches are on artisan House of Bread Garden Herb Bread, Sourdough Cheddar Bread, or Deli Rye.

Salads highlighted by our Signature Apple Gorgonzola Salad with or without grilled chicken breast.  We also have a Strawberry Feta Salad and an Orange Cobb which is our “kitchen sink salad” with boiled egg, crumbled bacon, blue cheese, artichoke hearts, daikon radish, avocado, tomato. Blind Dog Organic Coffees are available daily as well as traditional and herbal teas.

The YTA Café also offers Italian Sodas in a number of flavors as well as three smoothies: Pretty in Pink with strawberries & banana, Harry Belafonte with banana, pineapple, and cacao, and the Peachy Keen with peaches and banana.

YTA Café at the Center

Yerington Theatre for the ARTS offers two spacious Galleries at the Center – The Lobby Gallery boasts over 800 square feet of exhibit space on the Center’s ground floor and includes the YTA Café area. The Lobby Gallery hosts changing exhibitions of invitational work by local and regional artists.

The Landing Gallery offers 350 square feet of exhibit space accommodating large art pieces as well as three dimensional works. The Landing Gallery hosts changing exhibitions of invitational work by local and regional artists. Yerington Theatre for the ARTS is also home to the Dini Center Artist Group and Shutterbugs Photography Club

 

Jeanne Dini Ravioli Night Taste of the Valley - Jeanne Dini Ravioli NIght was back and delicious as ever - a staple of Taste of the Valley and full of local ingredients! Enjoy a wonderful meal made by yours truly, Mayor Dini, and dance under the stars to the great music of Colin Ross. Jeanne Dini Ravioli NIght was Friday, September 11th - get your ticket, and bring an appetite and your dance shoes!

PRESENTED BY: YERINGTON THEATRE FOR THE ARTS

Taste of the Valley 2015

Yerington Theatre for the Arts (YTA) sixth annual Taste of the Valley Festival is Yerington’s way of celebrating the delicious art & agricultural life found in Mason & Smith Valleys of Nevada. This event returns on Sept. 10-12.

The three-day festival is packed full of attractions that embrace local foods, arts, music, culture and tradition. The event includes a street festival, art show, farm to fork dinners, dutch oven demonstrations, home brewing competition, music and more. The festival will be held at the Jeanne Dini Center, 120 N. California St., Yerington, and in the surrounding streets. A complete schedule can be found at YeringtonARTS.org/TOV2015.

Our Fixin’s Gallery Opening, Thursday, September 10th, takes art and edible to a new level. Amateur cooks vie for cash prizes using local produce and their own “masterpiece” salsa recipe to compete. Local artists show off their best interpretation in “art of agriculture” in our gallery to enjoy and ponder. This appetizing opener includes Nevada craft beers, fine wines, salsa tastings, music, and an art experience like no other.

On Friday night, YTA is proud to carry on the Jeanne & Joe Dini tradition of welcoming friends and visitors to Mason Valley by preparing ravioli dinner. This Italian experience includes a Roasted Garlic Appetizer, made with Snyder Onions; a Hearts of Romaine Salad, made with Heirloom Tomatoes from Nevada Fresh Pak, and Ravioli prepared by Mayor George Dini! Enjoy a Dini traditional Ravioli dinner with drinks, dessert and dancing under the stars to Colin Ross. Saturday’s events include a street festival during the day and the Agri Gala Farm to Fork dinner on Saturday night. Check out the Yerington Chamber Car Show or register one to show off. Gain insight from The Dutch Oven Diva, who will be doing demos using locally grown ingredients. The street festival will highlight local musicians, a home brew contest, food trucks, and even a kid’s zone. Taste of the Valley 2015 wraps up the night with a bang featuring one of Reno’s favorite bands – Moondog Matinee!

Yerington Farmers Market: July 10 – September 18

Yerington Farmers Market (YFM 2015) starts July 10th and we’re excited! Mason and Smith Valleys will celebrate ART and AGRICULTURE with the Yerington Farmers Market this summer, hosted by Yerington Theatre for the ARTS! Farmers, artisans and our local community gather to enjoy  YTA’s  Farm Fresh Friday from 4-8 pm. Every Friday is going to be a little different too (bands, activities etc.), so follow us on Facebook to keep up!

• Fresh Produce
• Art
• Entertainment
• Music
• Gardening tips
• Family Friendly Activities
• Shopping
• Desserts, Coffee & Craft Beers at The YTA Cafe @ the Center
• And much more!

It’s a new way to look at grocery shopping, and it’s going to change the way you eat and enjoy! Yerington Farmers Market, the perfect place to meet up with family and friends and enjoy summer in the valley. YTA’s Farm Fresh Friday market launches July 10 – come check it out!

5th Annual Fall Quilt Show

The Jeanne Dini Center Gallery Presents the 5th Annual Fall Quilt Show – September 22 through October 24!

Do you love Quilts? Yerington Theatre for the Arts presents the 5th Annual Fall Quilt show “Every Quilt Tells a Story” from September 22 through October 24 at the historic Jeanne Dini Center located at 120 N. California Street in Yerington. This favorite gallery exhibition of quilts made by local and regional quilters includes a wide variety of styles and designs, traditional, contemporary, hand quilted, appliqué, pieced, machine quilted, and more. Every quilt tells a story! On farms and in cities, quilting has provided a backdrop to our history. Utilitarian quilts, pieced from old clothes and scraps, tell the stories of people scraping a living from the soil. Fancy quilts – made from vibrant fabrics and intricately stitched – bring to life stories of the more affluent.